Chapter 57

Azalea

“Is this really you?” I whispered, still not believing what I was seeing. “Are you really Adriano?”

He laughed softly, but it made him wince from the pain in his chest. “Who else would I be?”

“But you’re so... different. You’re being nice to me. Gentle. The Adriano I knew before would never act like this.”

“The Adriano you knew before was an idiot,” he interrupted quietly. “A man so caught up in his pride and anger that he almost lost the most important thing in his life.”

He lifted his hand and gently touched my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn’t even know had fallen.

“When I saw that gun pointed at you,” he continued, his voice rough with emotion, “when I thought I might lose you forever, everything became clear. Nothing else matters, not my reputation, not my business, not even my own life. Nothing matters except you.”

“Adriano...” I whispered, overwhelmed by how sincere he sounded.

“I know I’ve done terrible things,” he said, regret filling his voice. “I know I’ve hurt you in ways I can never take back. But if you’ll give me a chance, just one chance, I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I’ve changed. That I can be the man you deserve.”

I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but truth there. This was really happening. The man I had once feared more than death itself was lying here, wounded because he had chosen to save my life, asking me for forgiveness and a second chance.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted honestly.

“You don’t have to say anything right now,” he muttered softly. “Just... stay with me. That’s enough for now.”

I squeezed his hand and settled back into my chair. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promised.

I stared at the man lying in front of me. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe people really could change. Maybe love really could heal even the darkest parts of someone’s heart.

I watched Adriano fall back asleep, his hand still holding mine tight.

The days passed quickly, and Adriano proved he really was a different person. In the short time since he’d been shot, he’d shown me a side of himself I never knew existed.

“Good morning, love,” he whispered in my ear. My whole body shivered as his warm breath touched my neck.

“Good morning,” I replied, my face turning red. “How are you feeling today?”

“Good and ready to get out of this hospital,” he said with a smile. We were still talking when Matteo walked into the room.

He bowed his head respectfully. “Good morning, boss.”

“Is everything ready?” Adriano asked, getting out of the hospital bed slowly. “Matteo.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve handled all the paperwork. We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

“Thank you.” Adriano took my hand and led me toward the door. The nurses smiled and waved goodbye as we walked past them.

“Get in, beautiful,” he whispered, opening the back door of the black car waiting for us. I smiled and climbed in carefully. He slid in beside me and pulled me close. “Drive us home.”

The air in the car felt different as Adriano held my hand, kissing my fingers and whispering sweet things in my ear, not caring that his driver could see everything.

“Stop it,” I whispered, my cheeks burning. “Someone’s watching.”

“So what?” he said, raising an eyebrow with that sexy smirk. “You’re my wife.”

“I know,” I responded, touching his face gently. “But I don’t like doing this stuff in front of people.” I blushed even harder. “Not here.”

“Okay, I’ll behave,” he said with a laugh. “For now.”

I wasn’t surprised that he listened to me. During our days in the hospital, he’d been completely devoted to making me happy.

I watched out the window as the car sped through the city toward his mansion. The drive went by fast, and soon we were pulling up to the huge iron gates.

Adriano got out first, then came around to help me out of the car like a perfect gentleman. We walked into the mansion hand in hand.

“Welcome home, Madam,” all the maids said together, bowing their heads. It was too much, but I smiled anyway.

“Thank you.”

“Come on, let’s go upstairs,” he said softly, leading me toward the grand staircase.

“Where are we going?” I asked when we walked past my old room, the one I’d been given before I escaped from this place.

“My room,” he retorted, with a sneer plastered on his face.

“Why?”

“Because we’re going to be sleeping in the same room from now on,” he replied, that smirk getting wider.

“I don’t want to.”

“Really?” he asked, raising one dark eyebrow. “Or are you afraid I might eat you alive?”

My face turned bright red as he started teasing me. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Prove it by staying in the same room with me tonight.”

His level of flirting was beyond anything I could handle. I clenched my fists, trying not to let him see how much he was affecting me.

“Fine,” I said, trying to hide how flustered I was getting. “Let’s do it.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asked, opening his bedroom door and letting me walk in first before closing it behind us.

He wrapped his strong arms around my waist, pulling me close against his chest before kissing me softly on the lips.

“Mmm,” I moaned, opening my mouth to let him explore deeper. I melted completely as Adriano’s tongue danced with mine, kissing me like he was a starving man and I was his first meal in weeks.

I could feel myself getting hot and wet from just his kiss. He suddenly pulled away, and I could see pure hunger burning in his dark eyes. I was on fire for him.

“You should get some rest, beautiful,” he said, kissing my forehead gently. “I’ll see you later.”

I stood there stunned. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all. “You...” I finally found my voice.

“What?” he smirked, looking way too pleased with himself. “Were you expecting something more?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, turning my back to him. What the hell was I thinking?

Was I actually hoping he would take me to bed? Even though he was being sweet now, he could always go back to being the cruel man he used to be. “I’ll see you later.”

I knew he noticed the change in my mood, but he didn’t ask any questions. He stared at me for a long moment before excusing himself and leaving the room.

I let out a long breath as soon as he left, then walked over to the huge bed. I was exhausted from everything that had happened, and I fell asleep immediately.

I slept for hours, and by the time I woke up, it was getting dark outside.

“You’re awake,” Adriano’s deep voice filled the room. My eyes found him sitting on the leather sofa across from the bed, and my heart started beating faster at the sight of him.

He looked so sexy sitting there in a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He set down the book he was reading and walked over to me.

“You needed that sleep,” he added. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much better,” I replied, stretching my arms above my head.

“You must be hungry,” he stated.

“Starving.”

“Give me a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

Adriano left the room and came back quickly with a tray of delicious-smelling food. He set it down on the bed in front of me.

“Eat up, beautiful.”

I took the fork from his hand and started eating. I could feel his heated stare on my skin the whole time, making me feel self-conscious.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I spoke up. “Can you please stop staring at me like that?”

“I wish I could, but I can’t help myself.”

“Do whatever you want then.” I ate as much as I could and left the rest. After I finished, he called for a maid to come clear the dishes.

“Your sister’s surgery is tomorrow,” he said once we were alone again.

“Really?” My eyes lit up with excitement. “Can I be there?”

“Of course. We’ll leave tonight to be there in time.”

Pure happiness filled my heart when I heard him say that. I wasn’t expecting him to agree so easily, but he did.

“Thank you so much.” Without thinking, I threw my arms around him in a tight hug.

I pulled back quickly when I realized what I was doing.

“That hurt, beautiful,” he groaned, catching my hands before I could move away completely. “Stop running from me and give in to what you’re feeling.”

“I’m not feeling anything,” I lied.

“Are you worried,” he said, studying my face carefully, “that I’m going to go back to the way I was before?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to be scared of that, wife. I’m never going back to being that man. Just give me one more chance. I promise you, I’m completely changed.”

“I hope so.”

I didn’t know if I should trust him or not. He really did seem like a different person, but what if it didn’t last? What if he suddenly went back to being the cold, cruel man who had terrified me?

But looking into his eyes, seeing the way he looked at me like I was the most precious thing in the world... maybe it was worth the risk.

Maybe love really could change someone completely.

And maybe, just maybe, I was ready to find out.